How long is the pending process

[TerukoL]

After January, e-filed returns generally sit in Pending status for 24–48 hours before coming back as either Accepted or Rejected. Sometimes state returns stay in Pending for several days or even longer.  Some federal returns will remain in pending status a little longer with the IRS clears its January backlog.

Please click the TurboTax link to learn more. 

[A_J]

Has your status changed yet ?

[JakailaLO]

Please clarify to whom you are asking this question of..as Pending status with the IRS can vary with each return. 

[Carlostorres94]

Need help my pending bien pending for 2 days and the irs  says receive unknown somebody help me 

[CassLO]

Pending simply means that your e-filed return is on its way and that the government hasn't accepted or rejected it yet.

If you e-filed your return in January, it'll stay in Pending status until the IRS starts processing the backlog of returns.

After January, e-filed returns generally sit in Pending status for 24–48 hours or sometimes longer before coming back as either Accepted or Rejected.

Once your return shows "Accepted" you can then start tracking your return on the IRS Where's My Refund? site. 

Keep in mind:

• E-filing status is what stage of the process your return is in. e-file status
• Refund status is when you can expect you refund. If that’s what you’re interested in, go to Where's My Refund?

• When will I get my IRS tax refund?
• What if my IRS refund is taking longer than 21 days?
• Why do some refunds take longer than others?
• How do I track my state refund?

[Nic124]

My return was efiled on Feb 14th and it's still pending, I have never had this happen. Is there a problem?

[Anonymous]

It may take longer than the usual 24-48 hours in some cases for your return to get accepted.  See this FAQ  regarding What does pending mean?

[MrSolidum20]

If I filed my taxes on 7/14/2020, but the IRS has not accepted my taxes, does that mean that I will have a filing penalty fee?

[MrSolidum20]

If I filed my 2019 taxes 7/14/20 and I know how much I owe, should I go straight to the IRS website and pay directly to save time on the late payment penalty or should I wait on the IRS to accept my returns (efiled) and take the money from the account information I provided on the tax return?

[MoJoDaddy]

Will Turbo Tax let us know when the "pending" process changes?

[DoninGA]

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@MoJoDaddy wrote:

Will Turbo Tax let us know when the "pending" process changes?

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You will have to wait for the IRS to start accepting or rejecting 2020 tax returns on February 12, 2021

After completing the File section and e-filing your tax return you will receive two emails from TurboTax. The first email when your tax return was transmitted and the second email when the tax return has either been accepted or rejected.

[tmk315]

I filed my taxes on January 17th 2021, and my status is still pending on both federal and state.  I understand that the state takes a little longer but why is my federal still pending? Everyone I talked to has had theirs accepted. Did I do something wrong?

[MichelleLO]

Pending means that the IRS has received your return but has not started to process it yet. The IRS began to accept and process returns on February 12, 2021. The normal turnaround time for the IRS to accept your return is 24-48 hours. However, due to the number of stockpiled returns, it may take a little bit longer. Per the IRS, most refunds are received within 21 days from the time a return has been accepted (received). 
Please see the TurboTax FAQ When will I get my IRS refund? for more information.

@tmk315

[mesha663]

@DaraLO  A day after mine Federal got.accepted  my state got accepted so thats not true and the same for my 2018 taxes too.

[mesha663]

@CassLO  Ya keep posting.the same.response over.and over.thats not helping anyone ya sound like.a.bunch of.robots.and machines!!!! Ppl.want real answers not machine.robot answers!!!!!